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Mr. Thompson has over 35 years of experience and is in high demand for private student instruction with currently 55+ students in Western New York at his Hamburg Percussion studio and as a Master Music Instructor for Music & Arts Orchard Park.

Individual Drum Lessons: beginning children from third grade through college, snare drum to drum kit, rudiment development and competitive solo development, ECMA and NYSSMA preparation.  All music genres supported including Jazz, Rock, Metal, and Worship.

Drumline Percussion Arranging and Instruction: High School/ Middle School Battery and Front Ensemble instruction, High School level Field Show development and instruction, Indoor Guard Drum Line Show development and instruction, percussion music composing and arrangement.

Timothy Thompson has been a passionate percussionist for over 45 years. He is a third-generation drummer, a tradition that started with his grandfather, Gifford W. Thompson Sr., who played in Jazz and Dance Bands in Philadelphia in the 1920’s on a Barry Collapsible Drum Kit.

Tim has shared his passion for drums with hundreds of students from four years old to adults! Many of his students begin in the third grade and continue lessons through their college years! Tim’s teaching philosophy focuses on rudimental and rhythm development, music sight reading, and early development of four-way syncopation on the drum kit through interpretation and listening skills. The bottom line is to have FUN playing to music and to play LIVE with other musicians!

In July of 2024 it was announced that Tim was selected to serve on the Drumset Committee for the Percussive Arts Society for a three-year term.

The Percussive Arts Society is the world’s largest international percussion organization and is considered the central source for information and networking for percussionists and drummers of all ages.

He was honored to be a Judge for International Hit Like a Girl Contest from 2019 to 2023 and served as the Education Director for “Drumming Connects Us” during this time. He also serves on the Percussion Arts Society Diversity Alliance Committee which coordinates efforts to develop and foster initiatives aimed at expanding PAS membership diversity and enhancing community outreach. Tim also serves as an Education Advisor for PlayDrums.com and the Percussion Marketing Council.

He is a member of ECMEA/NYSSMA and currently supports and prepares multiple students for county and state competitions. He also consults and mentor’s other music teachers nationally through live video webinars on MeetHook.

Tim most recently was on staff as Percussion Battery Instructor for Orchard Park High School Quaker Marching Band, Six Time New York State Champions NYSFBC, and is a Substitute Music Teacher for Orchard Park School District and Eden Central School District.

The core of Mr. Thompson’s teaching and performance began in the 1980s while attending Penn State University and Houghton College. He also began arranging/teaching High School level competitive drumlines during this period.

His percussion experiences span a wide range of performance and study focus, from jazz, rock, blues, fusion, funk, & worship. Top influences include Steve Gadd, Joe Morello, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Neil Peart, Tommy Igoe, Gary Novak, and Dave Weckl.  His love of Jazz and Swing styles is a direct result from studying with David Lazorcik, Dave Stahl Big Band Jazz Drummer from 1978-1981.

On the opposite of the percussion spectrum, Mr. Thompson’s rudimental drive and passion for drumline excellence came from his years of studying with Gary Lenderman, the legendary DCI Drum Corps and High School Percussion Director, from 1978 to 1983.

This unique variety of experience served as a catalyst for performance as a drummer for Penn State University Jazz Band and as a professional drummer for local rock bands from 1981 to 1986.  While performing with the DCA Senior Drum Corps “Westshoremen,” Tim began a successful teaching career spanning over ten years in the 1980s as a High School Percussion instructor and composer for multiple award-winning High Schools in Central Pennsylvania.

Tim’s philanthropy efforts include the development of the David Stephans Memorial Scholarship for graduating students from East Aurora, Hamburg, and Orchard Park High Schools pursuing music studies. Tim also supports WNY Drummers for Homeless People and the Ted Reinhardt Memorial Music Scholarship.

Other projects include:

*Development of an accredited Internship Program for Music/Percussion students in collaboration with Villa Maria College, Buffalo, New York.

*Promotion of local drum clinics and workshops for students through the Percussive Arts Society and other local and national promoters.

Through Mr. Thompson’s philanthropy and community support of student development through the percussive arts, he is a distinguished member or recipient of the following memberships/awards:

• Professional Drum Teachers Guild of America
• Vic Firth Education Team – Member
• Sabian Education Network – Member
• D’Addario Education Collective – Member
• DrumDots – Authorized Education Partner
• DynaGrip – Authorized Education Partner
• Villa Maria College Official Internship Site for Percussion Students
• The Percussive Arts Society
• The United States Association of Rudimental Drummers
• Erie County Music Educators Association/New York State School Music Association

Mr. Thompson resides in the Buffalo/Niagara Region of New York and is an independent consultant for Nation Stage/Production Companies and develops social media and marketing strategies for the Live Music/Production Industry.  Mr. Thompson also serves as a consultant and clinician for local School District Music Departments and has been featured as a contributor for the Sabian Education Network.